T-Level are exciting new technical programme for 16 to 19-year-olds, that are the equivalent to three A Levels. A unique part of a T Level is the completion of a high-quality industry placement – of at least 315 hours, or approximately 45 days – where students will build the knowledge and skills and develop the confidence they need in a workplace environment.
T Level industry placement incentive payment
Employers can receive a £1,000 payment for each new T Level industry placement that begins before the 31 July 2022.
To be eligible to claim for an incentive payment, employers need to have committed to working with their local school or college to deliver a high-quality industry placement and this placement must have an agreed a start date between 27 May 2021 and 31 July 2022.
Employers will receive the incentive payment from their local school or college, where the student is studying.
What employers might use the payment for
There are no stipulations about how this money is used. Employers may choose to use the money to enhance the placement experience for the student, or for set up costs, to buy additional equipment for the student to use, or use it to train staff on how to supervise placement students. It would be good to see employers utilising this funding to put in place the infrastructure to continue to offer industry placements in the future.
Eligibility criteria
Employers can only claim for T Level industry placements that have a start date between 27 May 2021 and 31 July 2022.
All employers are eligible to claim an incentive payment, with the exception of government departments and arm’s length bodies. This is to encourage as many employers as possible to get involved.
Employers cannot claim for an existing placement that had already begun before 27 May 2021; however, employers can make a claim for any additional placements offered within the eligible period.
Employers can claim for up to 20 placements per region, so the maximum funding any one employer (in a single region) will be eligible for, across all providers, is £20,000.
Placements must be delivered in the workplace and cannot be offered through a remote-working model. Employers cannot receive an incentive payment in addition to an Employer Support Fund payment for the same placement. It will be down to the provider to work with the employer to decide which payment is appropriate.
Employers and their partner school or college should agree when the payment will be made and whether payments are made through BACS or another agreed payment method. We recommend schools and colleges process payments within 15 working days of receiving the claim.
A variety of work placements is being encouraged with training providers, including with SMEs businesses and this is mentioned within the guidance.
